Chicago City Wire

Illinois 52nd District State Representative Martin McLaughlin has accused Democratic leaders of bypassing established procedures during a late-night budget vote to gain political advantage. McLaughlin made these remarks on the Prairie State Wire Podcast.

"Rules exist and laws exist to follow all of them, and you don't get to pick and choose," said Martin J. Mclaughlin, State Representative from Illinois. "But we were on the floor of the House at 2:30 AM a year ago in the budget, and the Democrats violated the three reading rule. They suspended the vote, they redid the rules, so let's be frank—the rules don't matter to Democrats, it's all about advantage and how they can use the politics of it."

According to WTTW, Illinois lawmakers have faced criticism for passing major spending plans during overnight sessions. In 2024, debates over transparency and rule usage intensified when the House advanced a $53.1 billion budget package after working through the night. Supporters cited looming deadlines, while critics argued that late-hour votes limited public scrutiny and debate. This episode reflected broader procedural concerns about compressed legislative timelines and internal rule flexibility.

The Illinois CPA Society reported that during the passage of Illinois’ 2024 revenue omnibus (HB 4951), lawmakers voted to suspend the chamber’s own three-reading rule, allowing rapid movement of fiscal legislation. The bill included approximately $750 million in business tax increases and passed after late-night negotiations, highlighting tensions between expediency and transparency.

NewsChannel 20 noted that in consecutive sessions, Illinois’ General Assembly has used procedural suspensions and late-night voting to finalize budgets. In 2025, three spending bills were approved less than three hours before midnight, and revenue measures were voted on at 4:43 a.m. in 2024. These practices underscore a trend toward compressed review windows and recurring rule waivers during budget negotiations.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, Martin McLaughlin serves as the Republican state representative for Illinois’ 52nd District. He was first sworn in on January 13, 2021. Before joining the legislature, he was the Village President of Barrington Hills and owned a pension management business. His committee assignments include Ethics & Elections, Judiciary-Civil, and Revenue & Finance.